Actually thinking about the game more I can think of 3 situations where Bargnani could have done a much better job on D:

Actually, thinking about the game more you can probably think or 3 situations where every one of the Raptors could have done a better job on D. :-) But that's okay. Last year it would have been 6 or 7 situations each. Bargs was a little lite on rebounds last night, but this year he is under the basket battling way more than he was at any time in the last few years. He was putting up a good effort against guys who are used to grabbing rb's and have seen it as their role for years. Raps picked up 39 rebounds to Indiana's 41. I'll take that. And I will take Bargs effort under the glass even on nights when he doesn't post the numbers. If he is boxing out and fighting for rebounds, maybe he keeps his man from grabbing them and another Raptor has a shot at getting them.

Actually, thinking about the game more you can probably think or 3 situations where every one of the Raptors could have done a better job on D. :-) But that's okay. Last year it would have been 6 or 7 situations each. Bargs was a little lite on rebounds last night, but this year he is under the basket battling way more than he was at any time in the last few years. He was putting up a good effort against guys who are used to grabbing rb's and have seen it as their role for years. Raps picked up 39 rebounds to Indiana's 41. I'll take that. And I will take Bargs effort under the glass even on nights when he doesn't post the numbers. If he is boxing out and fighting for rebounds, maybe he keeps his man from grabbing them and another Raptor has a shot at getting them.

Defence - Nothing more I could have asked for. People need to understand that to run sets like these with only 2 preseason games, and a shortened training camp, it is really quite amazing. You can tell that is what they worked on. There was excellent switching. There was solid rotation (aside from a few missed rotations which eventually sunk the team, but that happens with little practice). Great defensive game. Something else I loved from this team was the hustle. Maybe 4 times the pacers forced a turnover, in which Toronto responded with forcing another turnover leading to a basket.

Coaching - I think what Casey has done with the Raptors is amazing. He has changed the philosophy of the team. I think as a coach, he is the best the Raptors have had in a while (mind you,this is an opinion based off of 2 games), but I don't agree with some things that were going on. Dwane Casey said that in the first half, their scoring problems were rooted from missing easy shots, and turnovers. Both of this is true, but the turnovers were caused by a lack flow which lead to many forced shots and bad passes (two would be the Jose drive to the basket with no one to pass to, and another would be Bayless doing the same thing). Dwane Casey needs to get a few more offensive options and use Butler.

Offence - It felt like we did the same things multiple times. We did not attack the basket enough (13 free throws) and did not capitalize on some good looks. The Raptors need to hit their free throws. Can not go 7-13 from the free throw line and win a close game. Rasual Butler needs to get more involved on offence. I was really shocked and confused when I saw him walking around the three point line. What Toronto did do was spread the floor nicely. Bargnani and DeRozan did a great job sucking in attention, which lead to great plays (Bargs to Johnson) and sparked the Raptors run.

The game today was a game of momentum. When Toronto had momentum (both defensive and offensive) Indiana was stunted. When Indiana went on their run, Toronto could not buy a bucket. The Raptors are a young team that needs to get mentally tougher to get through stretches like the ones in this game.

And you guys were beating on me for wanting him here and being happy with his signing.

Sorry, Maleko. Years of neglect to the national team, memories of discontent, and a pessimistic view towards his leadership talk had me questioning the signing. I hope the bumps, bruises, and welts have healed.

I enjoyed this game more than the win against Cleveland. The one thing we desperately need is a finisher though. Every good team has one. The one guy (or two) that can help ice or steal a game. Miami was about to lose to Charlotte but they have 2 finishers that can get it done (and Wade in my opinion is better than Lebron at that).

Derozan showed flashes that he can be the man, but he still has a ways to go. I hope he gets the ball in his hands if the game is on the line, just to show what he has. Hopefully the guy we draft next year becomes an option as well. It is much easier to be a finisher if you are a wing then a big, because when the game is on the line you need the ball in your hands, and its not always easy to get the ball to a big when there are only a few seconds left.

I think we will lose a lot of close games. I'm okay with that, but without a true stud that is a game changer, it will be very difficult unless Toronto has a big lead going into the fourth.